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Kango confirmed for The Race by Grins - "incredibly exciting"

By Michael GuerinJust a few years ago Arna Donnelly couldn’t have believed she would be where she is now.Where that is is the leading trainer in the Waikato and with her stable star Kango preparing to line up on her home track for $1million in The Race by Grins.Kango became the ninth and likely second-last invite to the race when his connections secured the Dunstan Feeds slot on Wednesday, bringing a real Waikato flavour to the April 14 race.He will not only have Donnelly as his trainer but th...

Hibell takes out junior drivers series

Cambridge driver Leah Hibell admits it wasn’t her best day in the cart but she was still delighted to be at Banks Peninsula today for the finale of the Hygain Revel Douglas Junior Drivers series which she won by the narrowest of margins.Hibell, 22, thought she had the series wrapped up after four races in the North Island when she led last year’s winner Alicia Harrison by one point and no southern driver could catch her.But, despite the original conditions of the series stipulating drivers c...

White to drive in The Big Dance

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskMatthew White is pinching himself as he prepares to drive in New Zealand’s richest race at Cambridge Raceway next month.The local horseman will partner Nicholas Cage in the $1million Race by Grins (2200m) on April 14 for Cambridge trainers Andrew and Lyn Neal.The four-year-old gelding sealed his place in the rich feature after a convincing 2-1/4 length victory in the Gr.3 Founders Cup (1700m) against a quality line-up at Alexandra Park last Friday.Nicholas Cag...

Night of upsets at Cambridge

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskIt was a night of upsets at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night and the meeting’s feature, the Bay of Plenty Cup (2700m), was no exception.Three victors paid more than $30 on the undercard prior to the main event and trainer Logan Hollis was intent on continuing the outsider trend with his charge Bet West.The Bettor’s Delight gelding was rated a $21 winning chance with bookmakers, but he belied his odds to take out the Cup after given a beautiful trip in the...

Mo Szyslak serves up another win at Cambridge

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskPukekohe pacer Mo Szyslak served up another win for his backers at Cambridge Raceway on Sunday.The son of Sweet Lou started the year off in perfect fashion when winning at the Waikato track last month and he doubled his season tally when victorious in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Mobile Pace (2200m).Driver Peter Ferguson elected to ease his charge back from his wide draw to settle at the rear of the field.He hopped on the back of Franco Hoffman to get a cart into the ...

Whispering Artist scores at Cambridge

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskWhispering Artist upset the apple cart at Cambridge Raceway on Friday night when downing short-priced favourite Jolimont in the www.alexandrapark.co.nz For All Your Bookings Mobile Pace (2200m).The Art Major mare was first-up and despite her pleasing win in her 2050m workout a week prior, she was discounted by punters who let her drift out to be a $9 third favourite.From her front-row draw driver Matthew White found the early one-one position with Whispering Art...

Harness Millions night one to remember at Cambridge Raceway

Cambridge Raceway hosted the NZB Standardbred Harness Millions Series on Friday night, the showcase meeting for graduates of the national auction house usually takes place at Alexandra Park in Auckland which is currently out of action due to flood damage.The evening featured the $200,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Three-Year-Old C&G Final (2200m) won by Merlin and the $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Three-Year-Old Fillies Final (2200m) won by unbeaten filly Mill...

Gold Coin donation for Hawke's Bay Appeal

Our thoughts are with all those effected by the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle this week.We will be collecting gold coin donations at the gate for tomorrow's NZB Standardbred  Harness Millions meeting. There will also be collection buckets at the bars.All funds raised will be donated to the Hawke's Bay Appeal created by NZTR, Dunstan Horsefeeds and the NZTBA, which will deliver horse feed to provide immediate relief to the equine community in Hawke's Bay.More info and details on ho...

Dunstan Battle of the Breeds returns to Cambridge Raceway

Dunstan Horsefeeds Battle of the Breeds is back at Cambridge Raceway on Sunday February 26, bigger and better than ever before.Cambridge Raceway have partnered with Love Racing to bring a whole lot of standardbred vs. thoroughbred fun to the Waikato-BOP Harness Racing club’s meeting.The Dunstan Horsefeeds Battle of the Breeds, a three-phase equestrian event held in the infield to showcase the equine heroes of both codes in life after racing, will kick off prior to race one with a host of famil...

Have Your Say - North Island Harness Racing survey

Cambridge Raceway are leading a process to help harness racing stakeholders in the North Island find a shared and agreed way forward for future success.First up, we want to hear your views through this survey. This will help us understand where things are at now and what you see as the barriers to success and opportunities for improvement.Please click on the link below to complete this 10 minute survey, which closes on Friday 17th February at 5pm.https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HarnessRacingNIThe...

Mission accomplished for Resolve

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskIt was a case of mission accomplished for Resolve at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night.The five-year-old mare was sent north with the Gr.3 Waikato Trotting Breeders’ Stakes (2700m) in-mind and she rewarded her connections with victory in the Cambridge feature.Resolve’s task was aided when race favourite Double Delight broke near the start, losing all chance in the race.Resolve didn’t have all favours at the start either, with driver Matthew White having ...

Harness racing recognised in Rural Sport Awards

Cambridge Raceway salutes two local identities Nicky Chilcott and Luk Chin who have received nominations for this year’s Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.The awards, to be held in Palmerston North on March 10 during the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games, honour the country’s elite rural athletes, volunteers and administrators.Chilcott (sportswoman of the year) and Chin (lifetime legacy) are among four harness racing stars who have been nominated, along with Dexte...

Artisan serves up victory in Breeders’ Stakes

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskThe well-known silver and blue silks of Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan were once again to the fore at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night.The Clevedon barn went into the meeting’s feature, the Waikato Pacing Breeders’ Stakes (1700m), with the two fancied runners and went home with the winning cheque courtesy of Artisan.Driver Zachary Butcher eased her off the gate from her wide draw to settle off the pace. She remained near the rear of the field before follow...

Marshall Australia bound

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskA return to Australia has always been on the cards for Kyle Marshall and the Waikato horseman believes now is the right time to go.Marshall spent time in Victoria under the tutelage of expat Kiwi trainer Brent Lilley nearly a decade ago and he has been enticed to cross the Tasman once more by the Cranbourne Harness Racing Club.“When I was with Brent Lilley nine years ago, it was always in my plan to eventually go back to Australia and give it a crack,” Marsh...

Aussie calling Majestic Man

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskAustralia is once again beckoning for Majestic Man after his win in the Gr.3 Cambridge Flying Stakes (2200m) on Thursday night.The Majestic Son gelding showed his gate speed to quickly take the lead for driver Brad Williamson who dictated terms throughout and guided his charge to a comfortable 1-1/2 length victory over stablemate Love N The Port.“He has got the game for the sprinting and with it not being a strong field, he was always going to be very hard to ...

Balle eyes bright future with maiden winner

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskThere looks to be plenty instore for promising trotter Eye Love You after her dominant maiden success at Cambridge Raceway on Saturday.The daughter of Love You had all her previous outings at Alexandra Park and trainer Derek Balle was unsure how she would handle the left-handed way of going for the first time in the Off The Track Food & Bev Trot (2200m).However, she quickly dispelled those fears, trotting comfortably at the rear of the field before being sen...

Group targets on the horizon for Ruby Ridge

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskGroup targets are on the horizon for Ruby Ridge following her win in the MVS Equine Handicap Trot (2200m) at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday.The daughter of Majestic Son was dropping back from Auckland grade, however, she had to overcome her 35m back mark and co-trainer Vaughan Blanchard admitted to being slightly concerned about that impost during the running.However, she showed her talents when running over the top of her rivals late to win by three-quarters of ...

The Race by Grins joins NZ’s richest races

The Race by Grins will join the thoroughbred code’s Karaka Million races and New Zealand Derby as the country’s richest races in 2023, with Waikato-Bay of Plenty Harness committed to a $1 million stake for the second edition of the race. The inaugural running of the innovative race earlier this year, attracted some of the best standardbreds in Australasia to compete and was won by the Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen-trained Self Assured, the charge of slot holders SENZ. “We were really pro...

Lord Logan sheds maiden title at Cambridge

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskPromising juvenile Lord Logan broke through for his maiden victory at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night and his connections are hoping there are plenty more instore.The Sweet Lou gelding finished runner-up on debut earlier in the month and was subsequently backed into $2.40 favouritism for the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Mobile Pace (2200m).He was eased off the gate by driver Peter Ferguson to sit midfield behind a hot early pace before improving to sit in t...

Cambridge Raceway launch catering section

Cambridge Raceway took a leap towards their goal of becoming a first-choice events hub in the Waikato today, with the launch of their new catering section, Off The Track Food & Bev. Led by Head Chef Michelle Thomson, Off The Track Food & Bev will take over all of Cambridge Raceway’s on site catering from January 1, 2023 and will also provide an out catering service. Thomson, who has more than 20 years’ experience, has been with Cambridge Raceway for the past six months, initially foc...

Young hoping winning run continues

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Trainer Jeremy Young is hoping his winning run continues when he heads to Addington Raceway on Sunday for the Grand Prix Meeting. His Auckland barn were in strong form at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night, scoring a winning double courtesy of Twist Little Girl in the Dunstan Salute Mobile Pace (2200m) and Osko in the Merry Christmas From Dunstan Mobile Pace (2200m). A daughter of Jewels runner-up Twist N Shout, Twist Little Girl was purchased as a weanling...

Northern raider snares Trotting Oaks

Cambridge trainer Sean McCaffrey loves when a plan comes together and that is exactly what happened at Addington Raceway on Friday night when Con Grazia Love won the Gr.1 ‘What The Hill’ at Woodlands New Zealand Trotting Oaks (1980m). “We are very happy. When you come on a mission it is very fulfilling when you get it accomplished,” McCaffrey said. “You have got to figure that you are good enough for a start and she just keeps stepping up and we are lucky that everything fell into plac...

Sales punt paying off for Marshall

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Cambridge trainer Kyle Marshall took a big punt at the yearling sales last year when he paid good money for a couple of nice yearlings, and his bravery is paying off in a big way. Marshall went to $60,000 to secure Son Of Mac out of Leanach Lodge’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft and went to the same amount to buy Yogi Son out of Breckon Farms’ draft. The talented horseman is now campaigning both horses down south an...

Copy That well and truly back in the NZ Cup fold

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Copy That is well and truly back in the Gr.1 New Zealand Cup (3200m) picture after his brave win in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Handicap Pace (2700m) at Cambridge Raceway on Friday night. Last year’s Cup hero had a mountain to climb from his 70m back mark, but under a perfect drive by Zachary Butcher he peaked at the right time to run down his major rival Hot And Treacherous to win by a head. It was the second win on-end for the classy five-year-old from a big ...

Hibell celebrates first driving win

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk A career in harness racing was never in the picture for Leah Hibell a few years ago, but now she has reined home her first winner. Heading to Cambridge Raceway on Thursday, Hibell thought she was in with a chance of notching her first win in the opening race on the card with Del Shannon, and her instincts proved correct. The Muscle Hill entire began well from his 20m mark and Hibell was able to find an early trail behind Our Pegasus Pearl before Dave McGowan...